ASUS introduced three new tablets today: the VivoTab Smart for $499, the VivoTab RT for $599 and the 11.6-inch VivoTab for $799.

You're probably wondering why the VivoTab Smart is so special when the Dell XPS Windows 8 tablet and the Microsoft Surface are both priced at $499, too. The difference is that the VivoTab Smart is one of the only Windows 8 tablets with an Intel processor priced below $500. The Dell XPS has an ARM-based processor while the Surface RT has a quad-core Tegra 3 processor by NVIDIA and runs the RT version of Windows 8.

The VivoTab and VivoTab RT both run Windows RT and have ARM-based processors.

Not many hardware-related specs were announced today, but ASUS is offering a few accessories to compliment its Windows 8 tablets. The optional extras include a wireless keyboard and screen protector called TranSleeve, and a keyboard dock that turns the tablets into laptops.

ASUS didn't give a launch date for its new tablets, but they're due in the "coming weeks."

While I'm generally a cheerleader for all things Microsoft I'm disappointing by the RT pricing and will be waiting for the X86 based Windows Tablets instead before making a decision. I really think they needed to come out with an X-Box style mentality to build an eco-system at the cost of breaking even with hardware sales. Who knows maybe something might change my mind on the 26th with some surprise but Im thinking im going to wait for the x86 based units before making a decision.

In the mean time Im looking forward to picking up some Windows 8 Phones that appears to be a surprise with sub $200.00 pricing with a 2 yr contract.

The fuck?? He's been the BIGGEST blind cheerleader for Windows Phone, Windows 8 (especially Metro), and Surface like this entire year!! Don't praise him for pulling a 180! The fact that he balked and isn't lining up to buy one ASAP invalidates nearly everything he's said in our numerous debates.

Nice try, but "Surface" isn't an OS, it's a device. Do you really want me to dig out all the quotes of you personally raving about Surface and endorsing it?

quote: Im disappointed in the price of the hardware not the OS.

And somehow that's a valid position given your extensive history? And what if EVERYONE felt the same way? Surface will fail from that alone. Something you personally admonished me for having the audacity to suggest might happen.

quote: Again Im sorry you are easily confused that tiles are icons with a background color.

Nice try but this isn't even about that and you well know it! I've got you over a barrel you double talking hypocrite and you know it.

No seriously, every time I posted about Surface or Windows 8, you were right there to "stalk me". Now you post that you are "disappointing" they aren't giving Surface away, and you can't even understand my beef?

Frankly I'm shocked. Judging by your posts alone, it was a certainty that you would be camping out in a tent for the Surface launch. Now it's suddenly not good enough as-is to buy...it's boggling. And it's just crazy you can't see how this hurts your credibility. It's a complete 180!

Yes please open your tech site where you rave about something for a year and bash all critics, then when it gets released, nitpicks about the price and decides to "wait". Good stuff, can't wait to read it.

You're the one wasting time. All you had to do hours ago was be a man and apologize. Admit your hypocrisy and bias, and we could have moved on. This isn't about "winning" damnit! You should stick to your guns, that's all.

Wait wait...so after literally months of beating me down for saying the same thing, here you are being less-than enthusiastic about the Surface.

LOL okay whatever, that's just brilliantly ironic. And after hyping the Surface as the greatest thing EVER for months before even using one, here you are not putting your money where your goddamn mouth is and saying you're holding off on buying one?

And if you think the Surface RT is priced too high, what do you think the X86 Surface is going to be? Cheap? Ha!

So are you just trying to be a huge hypocrite, or do you just hate me and like to argue?

Im only disappointed on the price but Ill wait till the 26th for the announcement, wait and see the x86 based units, and finally Black Friday is coming it will probably be plastered on the front page of every retail outlet.

Why jump in now when there is more to come from every manufacturer out there? Why not wait till they all release their tablets then choose? Im hoping someone will be producing a $350.00 Windows 8 tablet with good reviews.

I sure as heck am not buying another Android device to have it unsupported in 6 months. Im done traveling with that circus.

Also you're contradicting yourself here, big time! You jumped on the bandwagon with the others that MS made the Surface because they were "tired" of the OEM's not "getting off their ass" and making "competitive" products. You said this several times! Now you want to wait and see what they come out with BEFORE you commit to a Surface? If you believed the OEM's couldn't compete then, why all of a sudden you want to wait to see if they can compete now?

You make NO sense. If you're going to troll for months, you had better at least stick to your own narratives!

I never said Surface wasn't a good product for the price I said its out of the price range I expected and that I would wait for the announcement. So maybe the plan changes after the announcement and I decide to fork over $600.00 for one. I still want to see the pricing of the x86 version. The x86 version was my target anyway and if the RT version was priced at $350.00 then the kids were getting them. The current pricing changes things when you have a family and are buying for more than one.

I guess you should jump on the latest Android device from Samsung after all the Galaxy S3 is halfway through its life cycle for replacement.

Same old songEvery few months, it seems, we hear a new version of an old story: the maker of an expensive smartphone announces it won't be upgraded to the latest version of Android, and consumers cry foul.

What the fuck does any of this have to do with Android, Nexus devices, or Google's "promises"??? Huh?

And your analogy fails, terribly. This is the FIRST Surface tablet.

quote: Same old song Every few months, it seems, we hear a new version of an old story: the maker of an expensive smartphone announces it won't be upgraded to the latest version of Android, and consumers cry foul.

???

What, exactly, does this have to do with YOU not stepping up, standing behind your words, and buying a Surface?

This is either one terrible attempt at a deflection, or you are THAT stupid?

quote: You wonder why I wont commit to purchasing another Android device?

Yep, you are THAT stupid. This is about YOU not committing to the Surface. Am I asking you to buy Android? Did I even bring up Android?

I don't really see what he's saying as a big change of stance, with the exception of him actually purchasing a Surface. He still likes Windows 8 and Windows RT. He still likes the Surface. He hasn't expressed a dislike of WinRT or the Surface, or a desire to go with a competing device. He just doesn't like the price. I agree with him, I think it's a nice device but I'd like to see what Lenovo and others can do in the $300-400 range.

Maybe he'll get a different RT tablet from someone else. That doesn't mean Surface is a failure already - it hasn't even been released. Either way, you could have criticized him for not buying Surface at this price point, without going completely apes on him.

It seems to me he's less of a rabid, agressive MS fanboy than you are a rabid, aggressive Android fanboy. You've always got to trash the competition. Just an observation. I'm sure you'll want to dump on me too now.

quote: He still likes Windows 8 and Windows RT. He still likes the Surface. He hasn't expressed a dislike of WinRT or the Surface, or a desire to go with a competing device.

Talk is cheap. He made his bed, I just expected him to lie in it.

quote: Either way, you could have criticized him for not buying Surface at this price point, without going completely apes on him.

True. But liars and hypocrites are major pet peeves of mine.

I'm only doing this because he went after me EVERY SINGLE time on this. You don't even know. The guy was relentless and would hammer me constantly. And now he's not liking the price? If a rabid fanboi like him thinks they're too expensive, why spend months trying to beat down dissenting opinions?

Because I planned on buying two surface RT for the kids DIPSH1T. But you too hung up on your own agenda to figure that out. My kids dont need Surface Pro. But if RT fit my bill I would have bought into it for myself.

Your real purpose here is me and to try and downplay anything Microsoft. You've said it yourself that your an Android Fanboi and thats what this is really about. Your trying any angle possible to downplay anything Microsoft.

I must have really gotten your panties in a bind for you to be here that you just cant let it go.

If they really wanted to make succesful tablet lineup they should have tied it in to a selective version of the XBL store. There are plenty of indie games on the XBL that would run on a tablet, maybe even some full titles from the original XBox. They could even tie high scores and user accounts together to unify the "microsoft experience" across platforms.

This would have silenced any negative rumblings of the underpopulated app store inherant to any new mobile platform. Being the first to bring console indie titles to the mobile sector is a sure fire hit right out of the box. The main reason I want a Surface Pro is to play my steam games from my PC on it.